August 20, 2013: (LILLOOET) University of British Columbia prof Henry Yu and his crew set out on the Cedar-Bamboo Fraser River Rafting Expedition, August 20-22, from Lillooet to Yale. A joint-project of the New Pathways to Gold Society (NPTGS) and the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of B.C., the expedition took a party of Chinese Canadians and other adventurers to such historic sites as the Xwisten fishing rocks, Browning’s Diggings and China Bar. They explored this historic landscape and learned more about the connection between the early Chinese pioneers who came during the Gold Rush and the First Nations of the Fraser.
Their journey was documented by an experienced film crew that has produced multiple videos for UBC, including the Chinese Canadian Stories. Yu planned to produce three short films (one each in Mandarin, Cantonese and English, all with Chinese character subtitles) to show potential travellers in prime tourism markets how the trip is engaging, fun and educational.
Lily Chow, NPTGS Multicultural Director, accompanied the expedition, which she said would provide material for educational and promotional products that celebrate the “Cedar-Bamboo” connection between Chinese Canadians and the First Nations.